(Not So) Natural Notes: Chicago's new Loop Link

If you're traveling around town, which would be your preferred mode of travel, train or bus?  Chances are, you would choose a train.  Why is that?  Trains are easy and fun to ride, and they're quick.  They also cost less than driving, and of course using public transportation in general can reduce carbon emissions and smog, helping to improve local air quality and climate.  

Why would you NOT choose a bus?  Well for one thing buses are susceptible to getting caught in traffic jams, whereas trains are free of that burden.  On top of that, buses also make frequent stops - sometimes every few blocks - which can make travel painfully slow.  For example, during rush-hour traffic in the Washington, DC metro area, buses can sometimes run 45-minutes to an hour behind schedule because of traffic and frequent stops, even though they might only be traveling a few miles or less.  

So would the solution to this problem be to build new light rails or subways?  Perhaps, but this can be cost prohibitive in large cities that lack this sort of infrastructure.  Another solution:  bus rapid transit. Recently, Chicago opened its first bus rapid transit line in its downtown area known as the Loop Link.  
 
Bus rapid transit (BRT) functions similar to a light-rail system with one big difference.  Instead of having rail cars on a track (which can be costly to maintain and requires rail yards to stow rail cars), there is a dedicated (and usually separated) bus lane that makes limited stops to several or more stations (figures 1 and 2).  


Figure 1:  Loop Link BRT station
Figure 2: Loop Link BRT station
The Loop Link not only has a dedicated bus lane but also a "stress-free" separated bike lane (see figures 3-5) that's clearly marked.  
Figure 3:  Pedestrian crossing over the Loop Link BRT.  
Figure 4:  Dedicated bike lane along the new Loop Link BRT.
To make the Loop Link feel more like a typical train line, directional signage and bus tracker displays are located at each station, giving the BRT an intuitive feel for those that typically ride rapid transit train lines (see figures 5 and 6).  Where the Loop Link crosses busy intersections with traffic lights and high vehicle volume, traffic signals have been rigged with transit-priority signals (TPS) that allow buses a little extra time to get through the intersection before the light turns green or red (figure 7).  

Figure 5:  Bus time tracker displays give estimated arrival times for various bus routes.  
Figure 6:  Directional signage at the  Loop Link bus stops give the Loop Link the "feel" of a train line.  
Figure 7:  Transit priority signals give buses a few extra moments to get through an intersection.  
So now instead of waiting endlessly in traffic, commuters in downtown Chicago can now ride buses with a little more comfort, almost like their train-riding counterparts.  

Does your community have BRT lines?  They might soon!  

Comments

  1. xJune 10, 2016 at 6:41 PM

    What happened to your article outlining the issues with sand run?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alex PalmerJune 11, 2016 at 5:33 PM

      I'm working on making some changes and adding some additional information on restoration efforts. I'll be reposting it soon!

      Delete

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